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Dodgers back in action after needed off-day

Dodgers back in action after needed off-day

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Don Mattingly

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LOS ANGELES -- After playing 20 games in as many days, the Dodgers finally got a break on Thursday with an off-day.

The 20-game stretch started with a homestand against Houston and Milwaukee followed by trips to Colorado, Philadelphia and Seattle. The team wrapped up the marathon with a mark of 10-10 after a three-game series against the Angels this week.

Manager Don Mattingly said he's sure the players needed the rest, but he doesn't even notice when the team goes through long stretches like it just completed.

"Guys just keep going," he said. "If you talk about it, then you get tired. They say, 'Oh, we've played 13 straight or 19 straight or whatever.' You start moaning that out and you need it if you moan out long enough. You just keep going and then there comes an off-day."

Mattingly opted not to shuffle his rotation in order to give the starters some rest. Clayton Kershaw started Friday's series opener against the White Sox, followed by Chad Billingsley on Saturday and Chris Capuano on Sunday. The team will get another break from the action after the White Sox series before a 19-game stretch that leads into the All-Star break.